Easter at the Lovelands 2014

In preparation for Easter, I've been watching a church video with the girls each day. I think it was Friday's video that had a snippet of Christ being whipped before He was crucified. I love that the Church's videos are tastefully done and kid friendly. Videos have become a great teaching tool in our family, especially for Family Home Evenings. I was still panicked and concerned at what the girls would say, even though the snippet was so so short and mild. Claire commented on how the people were making Christ dirty. I had to explain that they were hitting him and hurting him and I found myself welled up on tears trying to teach my girls about what Christ did for us and why we celebrate Easter.

With our crazy schedules, we have to do Family Home Evenings on the weekends. Ross and I trade off doing the lesson and the girls trade off treats and activity. We've been teaching the girls about the Godhead and the First Article of Faith. This was Ross' week to teach. It just so happened this week was on Christ. I love the Easter Bunny and eggs, and all of the fun Easter traditions, but I really really liked having our Family Home Evening the night before about the Savior. It was a really simple discussion, but it helped get my mind in the right place for Easter, too.

We kept Easter super low-key. Ross' family always had a candy trail leading up to the Easter goodies. The girls woke up and came sat on our bed and I talked about Easter while Ross ran out to hide some eggs. Then we all knelt for family prayer and headed out to the front. The older girls got sleeping bags; Claire got a Little Mermaid one while Aoife got a Disney Princess one. (In hindsight, I think we should have gotten Aoife an Avengers one.) Aoife wasn't too sure about it at first, but once Claire slid in and started having fun, Aoife liked hers, too. Tiegan got a little doorway jumper. We had one before, but one of the cats peed in it and I had to throw it away. Ross got a game for the Wii U, and I've been slowly stocking up on professional make-up, so I just got a movie to add to our collection. We didn't do any big baskets, but I did order some kinder egg knockoffs that I've been enjoying. The toys inside aren't as exciting as the real ones, but they're still kind of fun.

I love Easter. I think it could definitely be in one of my top favorite holidays. As the girls get older, I'm looking forward to finding simple traditions to add, and finding ways to make it more about our Savior. I feel like there is so much surrounding Christmas and everything points to Christ, but I really struggled with Easter.

So yesterday was Easter. But it was also April 20th, which marks the day five years ago that Ross came to Idaho for a visit. And we smooched in the middle of the street and people clapped and cheered and cars honked. (I guess it was a good one.) And I was smitten.  Which made Easter all the more special, because I get to smooch him forever.

*I completely forgot to get a picture of all three girls together. Before church was insane. At church, Claire somehow got blood all over her dress. After church (Pictured above) The girls were more interested in the ladybug that Aoife had found and wanted to go see it again rather than smile for a picture. Oh well. They looked pretty cute anyway.